WorkSafe Victoria is calling on employers and workers to make it their business to stamp out workplace sexual harassment.
Executive Director of Health and Safety at WorkSafe Victoria, Julie Nielsen said the Agency’s new campaign, Let’s Be Very Clear, was aimed at raising awareness of what sexual harassment was, educate employers on their responsibilities, and encourage workers to call out unacceptable behaviour.
“Let’s be very clear – a workplace where sexual harassment is tolerated is an unsafe workplace,” Ms Neilson said.
“Employers are reminded that preventing and effectively dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace is their responsibility and that failing to protect workers is a crime,” she said.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe at work, which is why this campaign removes any confusion around what constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace.”
Ms Neilson said the campaign provided examples of specific behaviours that constituted sexual harassment and removed any ambiguity that could stop workers speaking out.
The Executive Director said the Campaign would target employers in industries identified as high risk, including information; media and telecommunications; healthcare and social assistance; retail; education and training; and manufacturing.
“Sexual harassment is a common form of gendered violence and involves any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that can be reasonably expected to make a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated,” she said.
Ms Neilson said the campaign was a wake-up call that this kind of behaviour was never ok.
She said the campaign would run across digital, print, radio and social media channels for a month.
Ms Neilson said WorkSafe had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) to take a united approach to preventing workplace sexual harassment.
“Under the agreement, WorkSafe and VEOHRC will share information, refer inquiries and complaints to each other where appropriate and collaborate on inspections, education and promotional activities,” she said.
